Liquigas

It would be cold antipasti all round without Italy's market leader in the distribution of bottled liquefied petroleum gas.

Tour heritage

This will be their third appearance. The "green machine" have won zip in the Tour but success in France is not the major issue; the Italian market is what they're all about.

Past controversies

Danilo di Luca, who has just won the Giro, is resting during the Tour. He is part of an ongoing Italian police inquiry dating back to 2004 dubbed "oil for drugs", though denies involvement. The 14,000 pages of unctuous evidence were submitted to the Italian Olympic Committee this spring.

In the coffers

£4m should get them cooking with, well, you know.

The boss

Mario Scirea, a tall, silent man, was a key member of Mario Cipollini's sprint train in the 90s.

Team leader

Filippo Pozzato leads a team looking for stage wins rather than jerseys. With his curly blond hair and engaging grin, Pippo has the bella figura Italian fans love. He won the Tour stage to Saint Brieuc in 2004 when only 22, and last year won the Milan-San Remo classic.

Wild man of the saddle

One of British cycling's forgotten men, Charlie Wegelius, will get a crack at his first Tour after seven successful years in Italy. A valued worker in the mountains, the slim 29-year-old's father was a Finnish Olympic showjumper. He will help Pozzato on the hillier stages and look to get in a break during one of the mountain stages. There will be another British connection if Magnus Backstedt, a Swede who lives in the south Wales metropolis Llantwit Major, rides.

They'll be happy with ...

Whatever, they're not really bothered: Di Luca's Giro win means the pressure is off this year and anything is a bonus.

A stage win for Pozzato and a day of glory in the mountains for Wegelius. Manuel Beltrán is capable of making the top 10.

If they were cheese ... Ricotta

Decent history, though in practice this Italian number won't make much of a mark on its own - it will be there in the mix without overpowering anything else in the vicinity. Those in the know will tell you that this cheese tastes all the sweeter back in Italy, where they truly love it and laud it.